Founded by Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, the Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology (CPN) Section is a joint NIDA and NIAAA laboratory.

The overarching goals of the CPN team are to understand mechanisms underlying addiction and to identify new therapeutic targets. These goals are strategic priorities for both NIDA’s and NIAAA’s missions.

We use bidirectional translational approaches that span from basic science to experimental medicine proof-of-concept clinical studies, biospecimen analyses, and big data methods.

Areas of interest include the intersection between addictive disorders and neuroendocrine systems, gut-brain axis, and other peripheral-central pathways, with the goal of identifying new targets and treatments.

One of our primary approaches includes translational inpatient and outpatient human laboratory studies under well-controlled conditions (also referred to as experimental medicine studies).

We further expand our work via collaborative transdisciplinary efforts ranging from basic science (e.g., bench, rodent, and non-human-primate work) that inform patient-centered work, to population-based human studies.

Kathleen Page, MD, is a Professor of Medicine and International Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Community and Global Health in Infectious Diseases (CCGHE-ID).

Her work focuses on improving access and quality of care to underserved communities, including people living with HIV, immigrants, and people with substance use disorder.

Her research focuses on migrant health, addiction medicine, health and human rights, mobile health interventions, and implementation science.

She is the principal investigator on numerous grants, including studies evaluating integrated care for people with substance use disorders, enhancing mHealth for HIV care, and improving vaccine uptake among underserved populations.

Dr. Jonathan Brett is a senior staff specialist in clinical toxicology and addiction medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, and clinical director of the Psychiatry and Non-Prescription Drug and Alcohol Unit. Jonathan is a clinical toxicologist with the NSW Poisons Information Centre and holds fellowships in clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and addiction medicine.

Jonathan is a conjoint Associate Professor at UNSW and a Senior NHMRC Research Fellow with the Centre for Big Data Research in Health; whose research focuses on psychopharmacology, with expertise in psilocybin-assisted therapy.

Jonathan was the chief investigator for a pilot study on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine addiction and leads trials on psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

Jonathan completed his PhD in biostatistics in 2018, specializing in big data analysis of psychotropic medication use in mental health; and is a key figure in advancing psychedelic-assisted treatments in Australia.

Dr Victoria Cook graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1998 and spent the first years working as a Family Medicine practitioner in marginalised communities in peri urban South African settings.

The focus and particular areas of interest of her work were the provision of care and treatment, for those affected by HIV/AIDS in these communities.

Vicky immigrated to Australia in 2008 and undertook physicians training (RACP) and advanced training in Addiction Medicine.

Currently Vicky is a consultant Addiction medicine Specialist and the Clinical Director for DASSA.

Vicky has an interest in the management of medical co-morbidities associated with substance use. In particular alcohol related liver disease and the provision of hepatitis C care to marginalised population groups – with a focus on current IV drug users.

Vicky is a firm advocate for the principles of harm reduction across the speciality and the reduction of all forms of stigma directed at those who chose to use substances.

Vicky is also a keen teacher, educator and researcher.

Dr Chris Davis is a GP and Addiction Medicine Consultant working at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.

Chris is a co-founder and Medical Director of the Clean Slate Clinic – a social enterprise with the mission of reducing health inequity and improving access to alcohol and other drug treatment across every State and Territory in Australia.

The Clean Slate team use a telehealth platform to deliver withdrawal and recovery services to patients in their own homes breaking down stigma, geographical, cultural and financial barriers to accessing care.

Dr. Simon Holliday is a rural general practitioner and Addiction Physician in private practice.

Dr. Holliday has worked part-time for 22 years in Drugs and Alcohol with Hunter New England Local Health District, mostly as a Staff Specialist.

Dr. Holliday has chaired the RACGP Specific Interests network of pain management and is a Conjoint Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle.

Dr. Holliday’s research and advocacy focus on iatrogenic harms, the intersection of public and private health care, and the interface between primary and tertiary levels. This includes the management of pain, addiction, and psychoactive pharmaceuticals in general practice, as well as the development and evaluation of pain management training for GPs.

Dr. Holliday has acted as an advisor to Commonwealth and State health regulators and committees, indemnity organisations, the Cancer Council, and educational bodies, including the National Health Professional Pain Management Education and Training project to be released during 2025.

Dr. Chris Holmwood is an Addiction Medicine Specialist, currently trying hard to retire.

Previously, Dr. Holmwood was one of the Directors at DASSA, responsible for GP and hospital liaison.

Before that, Dr. Holmwood served as Clinical Director of the South Australian Prison Health Service for five years.

Earlier in Dr. Holmwood’s career, during the last decade of the 20th century, Dr. Holmwood was the State Director for SA/NT for the RACGP Training Program.

Dr. Holmwood was also an Examiner for the RACGP for over 20 years.

Dr. Holmwood’s career interest lies in supporting non-addiction-specialist services in helping people with substance use problems.

After a completing degree in law, Jeremy changed direction to study medicine. He undertook training in general medicine and gastroenterology in London, and research into the effects of NSAID on the small bowel.

In another twist, together with his wife, he travelled to Mt Isa in 1992, lured by an image of Whitehaven beach in the Whitsundays on the back cover of the BMJ.

Jeremy has spent 10 years at Mt Isa Hospital as Director of Medical Services and general physician. In this hard-drinking mining community, Jeremy’s interest in substance use problems developed.

From 2004 to 2024 Jeremy was Clinical Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service, Metro North Mental Health.

Jeremy’s interests include treatment of opioid use disorder, management of hepatitis C and the interface between addictions and mental health.

Dr Marianne Jauncey is a Public Health Physician who has been the Medical Director of Australia’s first Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) since 2008

Marianne was instrumental in achieving bipartisan political support for MSIC and has continued her advocacy to see Uniting, which holds the licence to operate MSIC, now formally advocating for the decriminalisation of personal drug use; Australia’s first trial of hydromorphone for the treatment of opioid dependence conducted (in partnership with Uniting, UNSW and St Vincents); as well as NSW’s first drug checking pilot onsite at MSIC (in partnership with UNSW and The Loop Australia).

To effect attitudinal and policy change, the narrative about people who use drugs needs to change, and be framed by fairness, equity, and respect.

To this end Marianne has conducted countless media interviews and community led conversations to improve understanding about harm reduction and the nature drug use.

Dr Janni Leung is an Associate Professor from Australia’s University of Queensland at NCYSUR, the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research.

She is an epidemiologist and leads a program of research in mental health, substance use, and addiction, with projects on mental disorders, drug use, smoking and vaping, video game addiction, and on cannabis policy and public health.

She has published over 150 papers on the topic and has output ranking in the top 1% globally. Her work is regularly sought by major international organizations including the World Health Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and various government health departments for evidence-based policy development and reform initiatives.

Her current work focuses on understanding the population-level impacts of cannabis policies and their health outcomes.

Dr. Buddhima Lokuge is an Addiction Medicine Specialist with the Mid North Coast LHD, NSW Health and conjoint lecturer at the University of Newcastle.

With colleagues at Hunter New England Health, he ran a pilot study examining the feasibility of using TMS for methamphetamine use disorder in public outpatient drug and alcohol settings.

Buddhi is a mid-career clinical researcher and has been involved in trials of novel treatments for substance use disorders. He is also a public health medicine specialist and interested in the intersection of substance use disorders and population health.

Rose began working in AOD in 1992 at Pleasant View and continued to work in residential and non-residential withdrawal services at Eastern Health and YSAS before moving to Uniting ReGen, now Uniting Vic. & Tas in 2005.

Rose became Victorians first AOD Nurse Practitioner in 2009. Rose has a Masters of Public Health, supervises Nurse Practitioner candidates and was a member of the Ministers Expert Advisory Panel for the Medically Supervised Injecting Facility.

Rose manages Curran Place, Uniting’s 16 bed Adult (including 4 state funded AOD Mother Baby Beds) residential withdrawal service.

The 4 AOD MBU beds opening in 2016 and rising numbers of GHB dependent pregnant women and new mothers are being treated for withdrawal.

Craig Rodgers is currently a Senior Staff Specialist in Addiction Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

He has worked as a General Practitioner and Addiction Specialist in the inner suburbs of Sydney since 2000 with roles at the Kirketon Road Centre, East Sydney Doctors and the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre.

Craig is also a conjoint lecturer with the University of NSW and has contributed to registrar and GP training in the areas of Addiction Medicine, HIV and Sexual health

Dr Susannah Ward is a Physician of Rehabilitation Medicine awarded the RACP fellowship Basmajian Prize in 2018; has a special interest in wellbeing and is passionate about holistic health; and is the Chair of the RACP Member Health and Wellbeing Committee.

Susannah was an RACP trainee board director (2016-2018) and deputy chair of the RACP College Trainee Committee and Rehabilitation Trainee Committee (2013-2018); and is a director for Mood Active a charity that promotes exercise for mental health and provides supported classes to vulnerable people.

Susannah has been involved in research piloting wellness and mindfulness sessions in hospitals and was awarded the Advancement in Medicine Grant with Avant in 2018.

Susannah enjoys medical writing with several publications on health professional wellness and has written a self-help book Real Wellness launching this month; and is also an accredited yoga teacher RYT200 with Yoga Alliance and founded Ataraxia Collective offering retreats, yoga, mindfulness, wellness workshops and blog.

Dr. Tarun Yadav is an Addiction Psychiatry Specialist with Drug and Alcohol Services at Hunter New England LHD and conjoint lecturer at the University of Newcastle. 

At Hunter New England Health, he was one of the chief investigator for a pilot study examining the feasibility of using TMS for methamphetamine use disorder in public outpatient drug and alcohol settings.

He is a mid-career clinical researcher and has been involved in trials of novel treatments for substance use disorders. He is also a private psychiatrist with interest in the intersection of substance use disorders and mental health.

He has been using TMS and other novel treatment such as Esketamine treatment for various psychiatric condition in his psychiatric practice.